Save the Trees

A large group of naked people posed among the threatened oak trees at the University of California, Berkeley, this past weekend in the name of art and to save the oak trees. At least six protesters have been living in the trees since Dec. 2, protesting university's plan to raze the oaks and build a $125 million sports training facility at the edge of Memorial Stadium.

San Francisco Bay area photographer Jack Gescheidt, who creates artistic portraits of trees and nude people together, was on hand to photograph the protest. Gescheidt learned about the tree protesters in the news and, since his his work is about capturing the connection people have with trees, felt obliged to be on hand to support the effort to save the U.C. Berkeley oaks.

"I am drawn to this grove as a subject because as our cities grow, the small green spaces we have left become more and more precious resources. I think the struggle to preserve these oak trees is a clear result of that," he told local news media.

Meanwhile, the U.C. Berkeley police have cited and arrested people at the small oak grove for various offenses, and threatened to build a fence at the site.

Tree protesters said they plan to remain in the trees until they are forcibly removed. Construction of the proposed new building has been halted because three separate groups -- including the City of Berkeley -- have sued the university to stop the project. In February, an Alameda County Superior Court Judge issued a preliminary injunction preventing the university from breaking ground at the site or removing any trees.

The trial for the three lawsuits to save the oak trees is expected to begin no later than this summer.